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David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David's work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.

Apple's iOS 16 update brings a number of features to your iPhone. This includes a verification step for AirPods . If you're connecting official AirPods -- such as the new AirPod Pro 2 earbuds or the sleek, neutral-toned Kim Kardashian Beats Fit Pro , or other compatible Bluetooth headphone devices -- you likely won't notice a difference.

On the other hand, if you're attempting to connect earbuds that are fraudulently parading as AirPods, you may get a "cannot verify AirPods" message, indicating the earbuds are possibly a knockoff of official AirPods. A prominent "Don't Connect" button appears below the alert, but you should still be able to connect via the Bluetooth settings. 

Read more: iPhone 14 Models Compared: Every New Apple Phone Compared, From Price to Size

Apple does warn, however, that the unverified devices may not perform as expected. It's unclear what performance issues users may experience when connecting unofficial AirPods.

Along with the AirPod verification, new features of Apple's latest operating system for iPhones, iPads and the like include the ability to edit and "unsend" messages, a customizable lock screen and upgrades to Focus Mode, among others. 

If you haven't downloaded the update yet, set aside an hour or so for it, but keep in mind that not all devices are compatible with iOS 16. Here's how to check if your iPhone is compatible with iOS 16  and how to download the update .